The Case of the Harmonious Hairpiece

originally posted: 05/20/02

Brought to you by John Ellgen, the Karmic Pharmic, and the Gaither Homecoming, a concert by various Christian singers that played to a near-full Target Center last Friday.

In my decidedly nonpentacostal upbringing, church music was usually presented as being as joyless a chore as the rest of the service, so it's always refreshing to see both performers and listeners find a little pleasure in expressing their faith. I could have spent all night hanging on the old-time gospel harmonies of the trios and quartets. From the inspiring chords to their pure, sweet resolution, something divine shone through in every note.

Also, I can't remember the last time I saw so many toupees in one place. The emcee joked about some of the senior men in the group who sported rugs, so I don't feel too bad about mentioning them myself. I won't make fun of them, either. Those men old enough to require follicular assistance were also those with the strongest, mellowest, and in some cases lowest voices. Sure, some of the well-moussed younger guys could send their falsettos athletically high into the rafters, but it was the bewigged elders who provided the foundation on which they built. It's the comforting hum of the lower notes that makes the high ones so spectacular. I'm not saying there's a direct correlation between hairpiece and harmony, but I think further research is certainly in order.

Can I get an "amen"?